Chapter 13

Note: Ok, so I just want to warn everyone that this chapter does have some 'adult content' in it. Although nothing is graphic by any means, I just want to warn everyone before you read. With that being said, here we go…

She didn't know how much time had passed when she woke up. She pried her eyes open and the first thing she realized was that she could see. It took her a minute to set aside her pain and adjust her eyes. It was a small triumph, but she was relieved that she wasn't blind. She looked around and saw him staring at her.

Friday

10:51 AM

Booth's eyes flicked open. He stared at the ceiling in Brennan's office. He had no idea what time it was or how long he had been asleep. He had spent hours after finding the car standing over Hodgin's shoulder, waiting to see if he found anything. Finally, Hodgins had had enough and forced Booth away from him. That was when Booth had sought the solace of Brennan's couch. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but he couldn't help it.

Moaning from his aching back, Booth sat up. He looked at his watch and immediately stood. He couldn't believe how long he had slept. He made his way out of the lab and his eyes landed on Casey, who was standing in the middle of the platform, talking to Cam.

"Good morning," Casey said.

"You shouldn't have let me sleep," he replied coldly.

"You needed it," Cam and Casey said at the same time.

"What have we found?" Booth asked, ignoring them both.

"Not much. We're still working on some things," Cam explained.

"It's been almost twelve hours since we found the car. What exactly is taking so long?"

"Analyzing evidence takes time, Booth. You know that," Cam said. "Hodgins was able to identify one of the hairs as belonging to Dr. Brennan. The others have yet to be identified, which leads us to believe that the hairs belonged to the owners of the car before it was stolen."

"That's it?" Booth asked. "That's all we've got?"

"I think I'm going to get some coffee," Casey said, sensing the anger coming from Booth. She excused herself and left in search of caffeine. She hadn't had much sleep either since she had been assigned the case.

"We're running out of time, Cam," Booth said.

"I know that."

"How is it that Bones can find how a guy was murdered two thousand years ago, but we can't find a missing person?"

"It's different and you know it."

"And the cop in you knows that after forty-eight hours, the odds of finding Bones alive…"

"Yes, but this isn't a usual case, Seeley. This is someone who's playing with you."

Booth nodded. "You saw the photos. Do you think she's still alive?"

"Dr. Brennan is an extremely intelligent and strong person. If anyone could survive…"

"Give me your professional opinion, Cam. If this were someone else. If it weren't Bones…do you think she's still alive?"

Cam took a deep breath. "Considering the injuries she must have sustained, and the length of time she's been injured, I…the odds are…"

"That she's dead."

"But she's not someone else. She's Dr. Brennan."

"I'm going to get her back, Cam. Whether she's alive or…I'm going to get her back and bring her home."

"I know."

Booth's cell phone began to ring. He pulled it out and answered it.

"Booth."

"Agent Booth, it's Agent Woods." Booth tried to place the name. It seemed as if he had met too many new people and his brain wasn't processing the information as quickly as usual.

"Who?" Booth asked.

"I delivered the envelope with the photographs in it," Woods answered.

"Right. What is it Woods?"

"Another envelope arrived with your name on it."

"I'll be right there."

Booth hung up the phone and turned to Cam.

"What?" She said, seeing the deadpanned look on his face.

"Another envelope was sent to me," Booth said.

"More pictures?"

"I don't know yet, but I'm about to find out."

Booth began to walk away.

"Booth!" She called out after him. "Tell Casey. She's here to help."

Booth's initial reaction was to run and get to the envelope as fast as he could. He didn't care about Casey or keeping her in the loop, but he knew he had to. He headed for the coffee pot.

11:29 AM

Booth couldn't stop tapping his foot inside the elevator. He couldn't understand what was taking so long. Being so late, the building was mostly empty so there was no reason why the elevator should be so slow. Booth glanced up at the floor numbers that were above the elevator doors. They lit up as the elevator reached each floor. He only had two floors to go, but he couldn't wait. His mind was racing with what the envelope might contain. He couldn't decide if he hoped there were more pictures or not.

"You seem nervous," Casey commented.

Booth glanced over at her. She was leaning against the back of the elevator with her arms folded across her chest. It was a very nonchalant stance, as if she didn't care at all as to what was about to happen. It made Booth angry.

"I just want to see that envelope," Booth replied.

"It's nothing to be ashamed about," Casey said.

"What would I be ashamed about?" Booth questioned.

"You're nervous about the envelope. You don't know what the contents of the envelope are and you're torn somewhere in between hoping they're photographs so that you can know for sure if they are actually of your partner and not wanting to see more photographs because you don't want to see those kinds of images."

Booth found her analysis completely accurate, but incredibly annoying. "First of all," he said. "I know those pictures were of Bones. Second of all, don't psychoanalyze me."

"I can't help it. You wear your heart on your sleeve, Agent Booth. It's very refreshing to see a man who wears his heart on his sleeve."

The elevator doors opened.

"I just want to find my partner," Booth stated as he practically ran down another agent who was standing outside the door, waiting to get on the elevator. Booth raced down the hall towards his office. He barreled through the door and was at his desk in only a few steps. The envelope was ready and waiting on his desk, taunting him. Just like the last envelope, it was the same size, manila, and had the same words written on it. Booth was no handwriting expert, but he guessed the handwriting was different.

"Gloves, Agent Booth. Make sure you wear gloves. We don't want to…"

"This isn't my first case, Agent Temple. I work with squints. I know how important it is to wear gloves."

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Casey?"

Booth opened his desk drawer and took out two pairs of latex gloves. He handed one of the pairs to Casey. They each pulled them on quickly. Booth sat down at his desk and stared at the envelope momentarily before picking it up. He opened the clasp carefully and reached his hand inside the envelope.

"It's not photographs," he said.

"What is it?"

Booth pulled his hand out of the envelope. In his hand was a CD inside a plastic case.

"It's a CD," Booth answered.

He examined it carefully. The CD was ordinary, like any other CD that someone could burn music or documents on. The CD and case were both unmarked.

"Why would he send us a CD?" Casey asked.

"He always sent a video of his victims after they had been killed on a CD."

Booth's stomach dropped as he stared at the CD. He wasn't sure if he could watch it.

"It might not be a video," Casey said, trying to sound hopeful.

Making up his mind, Booth pressed a button on his computer, causing the CD drive to pop out. He took the CD out of the case and put it gently into the CD drive. He had never treated a CD with such care. He didn't want to risk losing anything that the CD might hold.

"Agent Booth…"

The media player on Booth's computer came up automatically.

"It is a video," Booth interrupted.

At first all they could see was a blank, black screen, but eventually the video started. The image Booth saw made his stomach churn. The first thing he saw was Brennan in the center of the screen. The video matched the photographs he had seen with only one difference. There was no bag over her head. He knew it was her. Brennan's wrists were bound together above her body with some type of wire. Her feet barely touched the floor. She was mostly hanging from her wrists. Her eyes were closed and her head was drooped to the side. She was wearing the same potato sack like dress that Booth had seen in the pictures. Her body was covered in bruises. There was blood pooling on the floor beneath her.

"Agent Booth," Casey said. "Maybe you shouldn't…"

Casey went to turn off the video, but Booth reached for her hand, stopping her. He hated what he was seeing, but he couldn't stop watching it.

The video focused on Bones just hanging there for over a minute. She never moved. After what felt like a lifetime, a figure came into the shot and approached Brennan. Booth never saw the figure's face, but he knew it was a man. As he got closer to Brennan, he slapped her hard across the face. Brennan moaned. Booth couldn't help but gasp. His blood was boiling.

"Agent Booth, I…"

"Don't."

Casey grew silent as she and Booth continued to watch. The man picked up a pair of wire cutters nearby and cut the wire that was holding Brennan up. She felt to the floor loudly. Booth could hear her cry out in pain. Tears pricked his eyes as he watched her immediately curl into the fetal position.

Booth continued to watch as the man kicked Brennan in the stomach. With one hand, he held her still bound wrists above her head and crawled on top of her. The man used his free hand to grope her body and push the dress up and over her thighs. Brennan kicked in response, but she was only met with another blow to the stomach. The next thing Booth heard was the sound of a zipper being pulled down. The man forced Brennan's legs apart and she cried out.

"No!" Booth called out even though he knew his words meant nothing.

"Alright, that's enough," Casey said, turning the video off.

Booth sat there, staring at the computer. His heart was racing. He could feel the blood running through his veins. His fists curled and uncurled on his lap. The image of what he had seen was burned into his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about the man's hands on Bones and the sound of her voice as she cried out.

Booth stood up. He had only one thing in his mind. He needed vengeance.

"Agent Booth…"

Booth grabbed the computer monitor with both hands and threw it across the room. It hit the opposite wall and crashed to the floor. Instead of looking scared or startled, Casey stood completely still. She looked at Booth's face and felt her own heart break. She had never met Dr. Brennan and barely knew Booth, but she saw everything about them in his face.

Booth made his way to the door. He stopped before walking out.

"Get the CD to the Jeffersonian." His face was deadpan, but his voice was strong. He was leaving no room for argument in what he was saying. He didn't even bother to look at Casey when he spoke. He only looked at the floor.

"I will," Casey said.

"Have them analyze it and see if we can find any information about where he's holding her."

"I'm going to have to send it to the FBI lab, too. I know you think your people are the best, but…"

"They are the best." Booth took a deep breath. "Fine, let the FBI guys look at it if you want, but can we…can we keep this between as few people as possible? I don't want…I don't want everyone to know what…"

"You have my word," Casey said.

"Call me if you find anything."

Booth walked out. He couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to be there. He knew he should be there to look at the evidence. He knew he should watch the video over and over again until he found some evidence that would help him find her, but he couldn't. He couldn't make himself watch it again. He had to step back and let someone else take the lead. He only hoped Brennan would forgive him for failing her.

Author's Note: Ok, so I know this chapter might have been tough to read. I tried to make it intense without being graphic. I want to especially thank everyone for the amazing reviews from the last chapter. I was having a particularly bad day when I posted that chapter and reading those reviews really made me happy. Thank you!